United Waterfowlers

United Waterfowlers

UW-F opposes Florida HB1103

January 16, 2011

UW-F opposes Florida SB 1362 by Senator Hays and HB 1103 by Rep. Goodson by Unanamous Board of Director's Vote

Florida House Bill - HB1103, submitted by Rep. Tom Goodson, Titusville, is being debated on Tuesday at 12:30 in the House Natural Resources Committee. This is the sovereign submerged lands bill that will take away our public lands and waters, land and waters where we hunt and fish.

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Florida wetlands have been the home of sportsmen and women and outdoors enthusiasts since long before they invented bug spray. 100 years ago, you could pretty much tramp anywhere and be on public land, hunt and fish, and enjoy the outdoors. But since Florida began draining the marshes about the same time, the Ordinary High Water Line (OHWL) has always defined the boundary of Florida sovereign ground.

Along the OHWL are littoral zones and buffers that protect our water supply and protect the native public lands. These buffer zones protect private lands from flooding and filter nutrients from runoff in urban and agricultural storm-water. They are the food web factories that feed the wildlife native to Florida and feed the migratory birds that visit here each and every winter. They are the hard-bottom spawning grounds for game-fish when flooded, and they are the public places where we hunt and fish.

Now some want to change these boundaries to give land away to private interests and shrink the buffers that are so vital to our fresh-water supply.

This bill could strip YOU of the marsh where you love to hunt!

This bill, if passed into law, will lead to the shrinkage of these buffers, and will eliminate hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands, meaning less public land to hunt and fish.

Contact your state congressman and tell them you oppose HB1103 and all similar bills this session in Florida...

HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE -

steve.crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov

Merritt Island, dist 32

rachel.burgin@myfloridahouse.gov

Riverview/Tpa dist 56

jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov

Bradenton, dist 68

matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov

Ft. Myers, dist 73

rich.glorioso@myfloridahouse.gov

Plant City, dist. 62